Automatic load-release device



Dec. 27, 1949 J. C. RUMSEY AUTOMATIC LOAD ELEASE DEVICE lF'iled Oct; 6,1945 I. VII,

.qlllk 39 Trag/Vey.

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 AUTOMATIC LOAD-RELEASE DEVICE John C. Ramsey,Mission, Kans.

Application October 6, 1945, Serial No. 620,802

Claims.

This invention relates to automatic load-release devices and aims toprovide a novel and improved construction adapted to satisfy all therequirements of an efficient and practical -appliance of this type asregards its load-supporting function, and yalso provide releasing meansadapted to operate to effect release of the load upon slackening of thepull of such load to a predetermined point or fraction of the fullactual weight of the load.

The-invention relates particularly to devices of this class which areused in aerial transportation and requiring load-releasing meansoperative to maintain a continuous and positively acting holding andsupporting connection with the load, and including means 'also operatingtc insure instant release of said supporting connection at thelandingpoint or place of delivery of the load.

For the embodiment of my invention, I provide a device comprisingseparable connecting elements designed for attachment to the transportor carrier (such as a parachute) and to the load respectively, and alsolatching means operative to maintain said elements connected inpositively latched relation under the weight of the load untilautomatically released by any slackening of the pull thereon to a givenpredetermined point or weight factor equivalent to but a small fractionof the actual full weight of the load.

For accomplishing these objects of the invention I provide aconstruction comprising separable elements and automatic releasing meansof the character referred to and including a yielding type ofload-supporting means having a given predetermined load-carryingcapacity, and combined with supporting means operating automatically toreceive and carry any load in excessV of said given capacity, but towhich no part of the load is transmitted or applied except when thecapacity of said yielding supporting means is exceeded.

With the foregoing general objects in view lthe invention will now bedescribed by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating one formof constructionwhich Ihave devised and found to be a suitable andpractical embodiment of the proposed improvements, after which thosefeatures and combinations deemed to be novel and patentable will beparticularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation illustrating a load-releasingappliance constructed in accordance with the present invention andshowing the 2 parts in initially latched relation, with dotted linesindicating the releasing position of the detent means or latchingmechanism;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the appliance, representinga section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view, showing only the lower partsappearing in Figure 2, and illustrating the yielding supporting meansextended and parts of the structure shifted for imposing a part of theload upon the positive loadsupporting elements of the appliance; and

Figures 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views, representing sectionstaken on the lines 4--4 and 5 5, respectively, of Figure 1.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, my improvedload-releasing appliance is illustrated as comprising a link connectionI 0 designed to be attached to the supporting means of the carrier, suchas the harness suspended from a parachute or the like (not shown). Thislink ID is swiveled to a strap I2 secured by rivets I3 to the oppositesides of a casing I4 which is provided with pins I5 on which arepivotally mounted the upper ends of a pair of automatic releasing armsI6. These arms I6 are of tubular or channel construction, with opposedlongitudinal slots I8 designed for slidingly aecomodating the oppositeledges of a plate 2li carrying the latching means hereinafter referredto. The arms IE moreover are provided with a set of supporting andlatching pins 22 for supporting and releasing engagement with a set ofrecesses or notches 24 in the opposite side edges of the plate 20, andalso with the opposite ends of a release l bar 2G to which is anchoredtheupper end of a coil spring 28 as represented in Figures l and 2. Thepins l5 also serve to support a plate 30 fitting in the upper ends ofthe slots I8 and limiting the inward swinging movement of the arms I6,which are swung normally outward into releasing position (as representedby dotted lines in Figure l) by the action of a' spring 32 held in placeby lugs 33 on the upper margins of said plate 3!) and with the free endsof said spring projecting into operative engagement with the other, forreasons which will hereafter appear. The ends of the levers 34 areformed with notches 40 opening in opposite directions, thus providingterminal detent fingers 42 for the corresponding pins 22 of the arms i6when the levers are in the position illustrated in Figure 1. To thelonger arm of the levers 34 is pivotally connected a pair of strap linksor bars 44 on the opposite faces of the plate` ZILn and" connectedbypinsz46f=operatf ing throughsuitable-slots 4l and '48.in-fsaid.plate,the upper pin 46 providing a pivotal connection with the detent levers34, and the upper slot 4T:

being slightly curved to accommodate thecorresponding movement of saidupper-pin 46"'abouir the aXis or pivot pin 36.

To the lower end of the bars 4.4. is attachedr swivel link 5D, which inturn is'pivotally embraced (at 52) by the intermediate portion ofacstrap` link bar 54 with which .it is adapted to cooperate in formingatoggle link connection.,between-.the lower end`of the bars .4'4"andj'aloopl, swiveled to one end ofthe bar 541' TheY other endgof said bar 54is attached'at`55 .to the lower endlofthe coil springj'as, shown in'Figures 1, 2 and 3,.

The loop 56"is designed to form the connecting.

link,rfor attachmentto the ,load (not shown).

In the use and'operation of; the appliance', the partsA thereof-"areassembledinthe relation illus?. tratedby th,e;full'lnes,in Figures l'and 2;With the bar 26isupported on the upper ,pins 22" and the plateH2li' also supported.' byV engagement of' its sidenotches24witlitheeother pins 22ofA thearms |61v Firstyapullisiapplied to.the bars 4451501 swingu ing-the detent levers 34"'intd'position lforbring.Y ing the detent lingers` into; place as shown in Figurelforlatching the arms I6, anda frangible pin` lllf` inserted intoregistering openings 62.. in said leversn and plate 2115i forY the;purposeN of` preventing any casuali release of the arms. I5 during Vthenecessaryhandlingl of the appliance; before the inalrelease operation;

Now VtheY purpose of the spring-Zliis to provide. a means'forsupporting-a fraction offthe load (on t'heupper-pins 22 of the arms It)`duringF the initialoperationand up tothe application of the main-Iportion ofthe l'oad'into supported relation tothe other pins 22i`through the-mediumI of the' plate-2B, which-takes place as the spring28" isv expandedunder the pulltofthel'oad7 onAv the link 54?..andstraighteningof 'the toggle 'connection 50i-547withctheresultthat thepinwie broken; thus allowingA the-det`ent levers :34t'o swing yfreelyineither direction, that.i is, for either mairfp'aini-v ingfthe flatching function by means ofi the detent ngers- 42 under'the continuedpull' off the7 load-3 orffor releasing the arms Il'asitheidetent levers3M are swung inzthef oppositdirectionf (into theYpositionrindicatediby-therdottedflines in Figure l) bylthe lpull .oftlrre-sprin'g`r 28ffol-lowingf theereleasef ofi-the main-portion offthefloadv It will thus-beseemthatrthe-springf28s-assmnes three differenti'working' positionsccorrespondingto three differentA working.-positionsfof the'det'ent* levers+34e irst,4 thefinitialila/tcliingrpositiorr` of said-levers,y asl represented; by the full:linesrinf Eigiirerl in` which positionsaid'. springs Aundera, slight.Vinitial. tension, second;,-thefpositiorrA following clockwise movement;of.;y said detentflevers-f 34 underthepull of-.thefloacl` for. vshearingf the pinV SEL-.Jn which movement theI springen: reaches y.

its fullyr extended; position. as indicated in Figure 3; when .thegreater. portion .fot the. floadlisappliedf to:yand.supported\.byi.the-p1ate 20'; andfnally; thereleasing.v` position,Jon; reverse vv'movement-off said detent. 1evers.34 in response,toitheaotionyoff the spring 28 following release of the load on theplate 2B, thereby effecting the unlatching or release of the arms I6 andallowing the latter to be spread outward into releasing position byaction of the spring 32 as represented by the dotted lines in Figure 1.

It will be understood that the type of spring 28 to be used will begoverned by the proportion of the maximum load which is to be supportedtherebynrrtoatherpoint-oifapplcationof the main pontionlof'thezload tothef'plate 22D following the straightening of the toggle connectionthereto and the full expansion of said spring as illustratedin Figure 3.The percentage of the load wlnchis-'supported by the spring 28 undersuch ,conditionsais-.therefore a predetermined quantity or factor, as.represented by that proportion of the loadwhichist'o remain supported bysaid spring aftensay;v initial contact by the load with the ground,following whiohthe action of said spring will continue ,tot prevent anynal. operation of the,loadrreleasingmechanism until substantially` thefullspri'ng actionof the springis taken up; that,is,t'o.say,anyvaryingrpullV of the load, following,,groundcontactg'or any fluctuationsin the pulling action of'theparachute or carrier supporting` connection,will be automatically absorbedby, the action.of'the spring 28,`as itcontracts, and without any-final release of the loadreleasing armsISuntil a predetermined pointis reached, at or about the point ofcomplete contraction of the spring,gwhich is, governed by the strengthor tensional 3. capacity Aof the particular spring .being used.

Thisrinalreleaseof-'the:arms I6 of courseallows. the, bar 26j't0 becomedislodgedfromthe upper supportingpinsA 22 (as representedley-dottedlines inFigure 1)A and'hence effects' complete release of thelatching and detent means from said arms,. and therefore entireseparation ofthe partsoi the device attached` to the load andtheparachute or carrier, respectively.

WhileI have illustrated and.described what I have found to represent asuitable embodiment of. rny. improvedV load-,releasingappliance I wishLto, be. understood as resenving the right to make. suchjchanges ormodications as may. fallwithin the ,scope `of my,l invention. as denedby, the. ,fol--- lowing claims.

What I claimisg..

1., Loadereleasing ,meansl tor.. releasing.A loads from carriers...comprising .separableAw connectormembers for..attachment..to-` thecarrier.- and, ton theloadmespectively, one` of said,.members.beingprovidediwith, latching..V means. mounted. fort relae tive. movement.thereon and actuated.A automatiecally, underthe p1111.,of.the load 7intolatching. engagement. with` theother. of saidmembers and the ,latter`having automaticallyseparating arms-- for. releasaloleA engagementbysaidlatchingrmeans;.

and, yielding, means4 acting in opposition tothe",4

weight of the load to effect unlatchingaof--said latching. means, andi,ar-rangedv4 to. complete said unlatohing.. operatiorhby.V substantiallyfullf collapse-v of, said` yielding ,'means. f

load-releasing means forl releasingy loads:-

fromf parachute carrier-sl and the like; ,comprising` separableconnector-.members foreattaehment to the. carrier andtolthealoadfrespectively, onerofz' said-members;beingfprovided `with latching means"actuated under the pull of the load into latching-y engagement with theother of said'nrembers and the-,lattenl.heningfautomatically:separatingv arms fori.releasableengagementgbysaid-latchingmeansg and;L yieldingmcans -releasasbly.fsupported'iby.said' arms and tending normally to effect unlatohing of said latchingmeans and arranged to complete said unlatching operation by thesubstantially full collapse of said yielding means.

3. Load-releasing means for releasing loads from parachute carriers andthe like, comprising separable connector members for attachment to thecarrier and to the load respectively, one of said members being providedwith latching means pivotally mounted thereon and actuated automaticallyunder the pull of the load into latching engagement with the other ofsaid members and the latter having automatically separating arms forreleasable engagement by said latching means, yielding means tending toeffect unlatching of said latching means in opposition to the weight ofthe load and operative on substantially full collapse of said yieldingmeans to complete said unlatching operation, and frangible means fortemporarily locking said latching means and rendered inoperative bymovement of said latching means under the pull of the load.

4. Load-releasing means for releasing loads from parachute carriers andthe like, comprising separable connector members for attachment to thecarrier and to the load respectively, one of said members being providedwith latching means operable under the pull of the load into latchingengagement with the other of said members and the latter havingautomatically separating arms for releasable engagement by said latchingmeans, yielding means releasably supported by said arms and tendingnormally to effect unlatching of said latching means, andload-supporting means at- 6 tached to said yielding means and providedwith an operative toggle connection to said latching means.

5. Load-releasing means for releasing loads from carriers, comprisingseparable connector members for attachment to the carrier and to theload respectively, one of said members being provided With latchingmeans operable automatically under the pull of the load into latchingengagement with the other of said members and the latter havingautomatically spreading arms for releasable engagement by said latchingmeans, yielding means releasably supported by said arms and tendingnormally to eiect unlatching of said latching means, frangible means fortemporarily locking said latching means and rendered inop# erative bymovement of said latching means under the pull of the load, andload-supporting means attached to said yielding means and provided witha toggle link connection with said latching means.

JOHN C. RUMSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,845,466 Williams Feb. 16, 19322,270,317 Larson Jan. 1, 1942 2,373,386 De Freitas Apr. 10, 19452,383,485 Irby Aug. 28, 1945

